Progressives praised U.S. House primary candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—"a torchbearer for the progressive movement"—for her performance Friday night in a debate against Rep. Joe Crowley, a powerful player in the Democratic Party's establishment and longtime representative of New York's 14th District.

"Not all Democrats are the same, and I am proud to be the only Democrat in this race that rejects all corporate money, and champions and advances improved and expanded Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, tuition-free public college, and the abolition of ICE," she said in her opening remarks. "In a district that is 85 percent Democrat, overwhelmingly working class, and 70 percent people of color, we deserve a working-class champion."

Supporters turned to social media to celebrate Ocasio-Cortez as "a champion for her district" and condemn Crowley—chair of the House Democratic Caucus—as "a career politician who has long been out of touch [with] the majority of the constituency."

#NY14 is in for the greatest gift imaginable: a radical young woman of color, a working class NYer, a torchbearer for the progressive movement, a kind person with zero ego and razor sharp wit, a champion for her district. Goodbye @repjoecrowley. The people choose @Ocasio2018. pic.twitter.com/jlSLbGZubP

Those who tuned in to the debate, which was aired locally on television, commented on the "passion that [Ocasio-Cortez] showed on every issue," concluding, "You can tell she's experienced these problems first hand and deeply wants to fight for change."

I think the main takeaway from this debate was the passion that @Ocasio2018 showed on every issue. You can tell she's experienced these problems first hand and deeply wants to fight for change.

Crowley seems to care much more about national issues than #NY14 ones.

Journalist Jeremy Scahill—who recently interviewed Ocasio-Cortez on his podcastIntercepted—remarked: "The contrast between them couldn't be more stark and Crowley seems scared. She's fierce." Ocasio-Cortez is the first primary challenger the congressman has faced in 14 years.

Wow. @Ocasio2018 just destroyed @repjoecrowley in the #NY14 congressional debate. Multiple times she sent him to the ropes. The contrast between them couldn’t be more stark and Crowley seems scared. She’s fierce.

The New York district's primary race has garnered national attention as Ocasio-Cortez has picked up endorsements from groups such as the Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

The activist-turned-candidate is also winning over New York City-based groups. Late Friday, she picked up an endorsement from a Democratic club in Queens—which is quite a feat, considering that her opponent's nickname is reportedly "the King of Queens."

"Ocasio-Cortez is a better representative of our neighborhood," William Salgado, chairman of the Pan-American Democratic Association, told the New York Post. "She's more progressive. She's not behind the banks, insurance companies, and Wall Street."

Honored to have to broken through to our first Queens Dem Club endorsement.

“Ocasio-Cortez is a better representative of our neighborhood. She’s more progressive. She’s not behind the banks, insurance companies and Wall Street,” said the club chairman.https://t.co/uMhbiDqpfe

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Further

Prepping for Saturday's protests in D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser went for the grand gesture - and a symbolic middle finger to the racist cowering in the White House - and had "Black Lives Matter" painted in yuge yellow letters on the city's main drag. Bowser's action, aimed at recognizing the thousands in the streets "craving to be heard and to be seen," was criticized by some activists as "performative distraction," but many celebrated it as a vital tribute: "We are saying it loud. We are here."

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